DeVore married the singer
Maria Cole (1969–1978) prompting an extensive search and media speculation. DeVore had been working in his office in Santa Fe trying to finish a script. DeVore had recently complained of writer's block, and so had decided to change his environment. When he finally finished the script, DeVore decided to drive home through the
Mojave Desert. His wife Wendy was waiting for him at their beachfront house in
Carpinteria, California. When she did not hear from him, she decided to call around 1 am (it was later discovered the call had not been recorded by the telephone company). He answered, but was not very specific on his location. This was the last time Wendy spoke with him. After police had retrieved the vehicle from the water, it was found that his laptop containing the script (titled
The Big Steal) was missing, as was his gun. DeVore's hands were missing; hand bones were found nearby but could not be conclusively identified as DeVore's. The discovery of DeVore's vehicle was considered suspicious, as the aqueduct was searched shortly after his disappearance was reported and nothing unusual was discovered. This would have been doubly difficult because the vehicle's lights were not switched on. ==Filmography==